Process routes for heat treatment, hardening and tempering of heavy plates

The great diversity of grades producible today in heavy-plate production requires a huge variety of different equipment or in fact is only possible with that variety. To manufacture products with highest strength and ductility values, optimized and high-performance heat treatment equipment is of particular importance. The article tries to give a principal overview of the possible process routes and the corresponding plant technology. A special focus is put on the different furnace types used for these purposes and a rough guideline is given on which criteria are decisive in order to find the ideal solution.